- News
- Reviews
- Bikes
- Accessories
- Accessories - misc
- Computer mounts
- Bags
- Bar ends
- Bike bags & cases
- Bottle cages
- Bottles
- Cameras
- Car racks
- Child seats
- Computers
- Glasses
- GPS units
- Helmets
- Lights - front
- Lights - rear
- Lights - sets
- Locks
- Mirrors
- Mudguards
- Racks
- Pumps & CO2 inflators
- Puncture kits
- Reflectives
- Smart watches
- Stands and racks
- Trailers
- Clothing
- Components
- Bar tape & grips
- Bottom brackets
- Brake & gear cables
- Brake & STI levers
- Brake pads & spares
- Brakes
- Cassettes & freewheels
- Chains
- Chainsets & chainrings
- Derailleurs - front
- Derailleurs - rear
- Forks
- Gear levers & shifters
- Groupsets
- Handlebars & extensions
- Headsets
- Hubs
- Inner tubes
- Pedals
- Quick releases & skewers
- Saddles
- Seatposts
- Stems
- Wheels
- Tyres
- Health, fitness and nutrition
- Tools and workshop
- Miscellaneous
- Buyers Guides
- Features
- Forum
- Recommends
- Podcast
Maria Leijerstam at the South Pole (picture courtesy ICE Trikes)ITV documentary of Maria Leijerstam's record breaking trike ride to South Pole now online
A documentary following Maria Leijerstam, the Welsh woman who last month became the first cyclist to ride to the South Pole, is now available to watch on the ITV website. The 45-minute programme was broadcast on Tuesday evening as a Wales This Week Special.
Cameras followed the 35-year-old, who has a background as an ultramarathon runner in places as diverse as the Sahara Desert and Siberia, for six months during her preparations for her record-breaking journey.
It covers issues such as the tricycle she used for the ride, supplied by sponsor ICE Trikes, her training regime, the team of people who supported her, and the logistical challenges she faced – including a baggage weight-induced panic at the airport.
The main focus of course is the ten-day ride across the ice cap, ending in Maria’s emotional – and record-breaking – arrival at the South Pole.
You’ll find the documentary here – it’s well worth watching.
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
Latest Comments
- SamSeed 12 sec ago
My 6KU, replaced everything but the front chainring over the past 5 years.
- froze 1 hour 57 min ago
This was a very good listing of bikes for under 1,000....
- Hirsute 5 hours 18 min ago
Radar tells me their closing speed, if they are slowing and how far away. Then I decide to say a prayer. The change of light pattern is incidental.
- lonpfrb 5 hours 38 min ago
Quite so, which is why our village 20mph zone covers the whole residential extent. Of course, enforcement is another thing..
- lonpfrb 6 hours 4 min ago
No, that's very doubtful while proper testing would be fully destructive.
- don simon fbpe 7 hours 18 min ago
What's wrong with dropping down on to the Millenium Bridge, or the swing bridge, then the brief, but satisfying climb back up the hill? #training....
- chrisonabike 7 hours 59 min ago
The relatives might of course disagree, but in general I'd countenance a relatively light sentence* if only we could fix it so that those who...
- ktache 8 hours 38 min ago
Id forgotten that I got a second hand set of project two's for my getting to work bike over twenty years back.
- Veganpotter 9 hours 35 min ago
My bet is that all these tires popping off are from people with bad pressure gauges or they're simply just putting too much air in on purpose. ...
Add new comment
7 comments
Woohoo. I was the t-shirt and inner tube sponsor.
Why only welsh tv.
I'd lined up this and bunch of other Vimeo cycling movies for a 'when-the-wife's-away' cycling film festival tonight. Being able to sync a watch later list with your TV is brilliant!
… oh, and The White Ice Cycle was a great watch too. The moments with just Maria speaking to the camera when she's struggling are really quite emotional. Or perhaps I'm just growing soft[er] in my old age.
Amazing achievement but one hell of a boring ride I would have thought. Nothing short of masochism.
I would love to watch it, but unfortunately, for some as yet unexplained reason, I am unable to watch anything on Vimeo - it skips straight to the end whenever I attempt to play. Is there any chance it might appear on another platform?
Been following this for the last few months - FWIW the third rider, Daniel Burton only arrived at the South Pole earlier this week. It appears a few folks are getting a bit sniffy about whether supported rides should qualify as it devalues the concept of adventure. Regardless, she was the first to cycle all the way to the pole and expect fat-trikes to be a new mode of adventure travel.
I wouldn't bet on fat trikes, it cost over £10k for that one.
I will finish watching it, but I have thrice fallen asleep with it on screen